Thursday, October 4, 2012

So…What’s Next?

Closing the door on a season was hard, but the next step may
be harder: figuring out which project to tackle next.

Right now, I’m looking forward to three possibilities. One
of them has a potential deadline as a price tag. One of them is a project I’ve
always wanted to jump into, but time and circumstances just haven’t afforded me
that luxury. And one of them simply fell in my lap when I wasn’t looking—and is
now hollering at me from the shelf where I stuck it after my last vacation.

The first project—or rather, first set of projects—has to do with “First Families” designations. Years
ago, I was told by a distant relative (met only through genealogical research)
that I should qualify as a Florida Pioneer Descendant, courtesy of my mother’s
McClellan line there. Granted, I’ve already known for years that my third great grandfather was a signer of the original Florida
constitution. Following the procedure to achieve this designation is a
formality that wouldn’t confirm anything I didn’t already know. But it would be
a nice formality—as long as I can
complete the application before the April 30 deadline.

A “First Families” project I’m more inclined to pursue is First Families of Ohio. This is part of the reason we visited Fort Wayne’s Allen County Public Library last
summer. I am struggling with—no, suffering
from—one vital but missing link standing in between me and claiming that prize
on behalf of my husband’s family. I have been told, unofficially, by someone
associated with the program that the piece of squishy documentation that makes
me squirm in self-doubt may actually be quite acceptable. But only if I can get
my act together before the December 31 deadline.

The second project—a dream for some, anathema to others—is to
submit my application to become part of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Thanks once again to my mother’s maternal line, qualifying for this
coveted designation is all over but the shouting. It’s just that small issue of
completing the paperwork…

From that second project springs a third one. Courtesy of
that midsummer stop at Fort Wayne, while desperately searching for that First
Families of Ohio pre-1820 smoking gun, we stumbled upon some information that
makes it appear that not only can I apply to the D. A. R. on my own behalf, but
an ancestor in one of my husband’s lines may qualify, well, not my husband,
exactly, but our daughter (once again)—and his sisters.

Ah, paperwork, paperwork!

And, as much as I know how everyone loves paperwork, I’ll be glad to share: I’ll keep all of you
updated on my progress completing these three projects. Partly as
accountability (please be my cheering section!). And partly in a quest to free
the historic data that may be of help to other researchers. But mostly as
guinea pig: see, you can do this, too!

14 comments:

Which project will make a difference to one of your Great Grandchildren? That is the one I would pick. I am going back to my husbands side of the family with photos and keepsakes much like you..I started last winter and had to quit for the summer. I am anxious to dig into it again:)

Which project will make a difference to my great grandchildren? That's a great way to see it!

Yes, it is quite a task to digitize, record and store all those keepsakes, but I find it helpful to get in a routine and do a little bit every day. That's why the blogging mode was helpful to me. Of course, I understand you have extenuating circumstances when it comes to summertime...

Jana, that would be great to go through the Ohio First Families process together! Even though I'm so far away, I'd even like to attend the annual meeting where the designations are presented. I do, after all, still have family in Ohio!

I actually just signed and submitted my DAR application and started the process of applying to the First Families of Ohio (still have a ways to go though!).

It really didn't take long at all to get the DAR application done, my chapter registrar did most of the work and I just proofed and signed it. All told it took about two weeks from when I contacting my registrar to get the ball rolling to when I signed the final application. If you want to know more about the process, let me know.

Due to cicumstances beyond my control, my mother went to the Historical Society of Philadelphia's evening session on "Linage Societies" where apparently most of the ones you mentioned were discussed. The DAR apparently was originially intended to be a "pure blood" immigrant (I assume that means White Anglo Saxon Protestant) society that was reacting to "lesser people" immigrants (I think they meant Italians, Irish, and any eastern European country). Its not quite like that today (I hope!) but my mom and I both agree - whether she gets the application in and approved or not - the journey ... the finding out "who were are" and where "we came from" ... was not only well-worth the effort (and minor expense beyond our time), it might be far more important then the membership(s).

What's important to my nephews and niece remains to be seen - but recently my oldest nephew has taken an active interest in not only family history, but history in general and may make it his college major. I'd like to think I had (very small) hand in that blooming curiousity... I think he's grasped "it's not the dates, it's the people!" (and as it turns out, a bunch of them were involved in a signiifant way when it comes to US history).

No, I'm sure it's not like that today, Iggy, but I'm aware the DAR has had a somewhat tainted past--which I don't intend to be associated with, either. I think their mission and goals today are admirable...and hey, as you said, it's the journey that is important at this point.

So glad to hear about your nephew's interest in history. That's a subject I steered far clear of in my high school years, but just as you said, when I got it about the "not the dates, it's the people" truth of the matter, it definitely piqued my interest much more. Best wishes to your nephew as he pursues his college education.

About Me

It is my contention that, after a lifetime, one of the greatest needs people have is to be remembered. They want to know: have I made a difference?
I write because I can't keep for myself the gifts others have entrusted to me. Through what I've already been given--though not forgetting those to whom I must pass this along--from family I receive my heritage; through family I leave a legacy. With family I weave a tapestry. These are my strands.